Obstetric or invalid cot



(No Model.)

D.- W. SGUTT. OBSTETRIG 0R INVALID GOT.

No. 535,419 Patented Mar. 12, 1895.-

Unrrnn mares ArnN'r Fries.

OBSTETRIC OR INVALID COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,419, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed April 17,1394. Serial No. 507,898- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DELIVAN W. SOUTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watkins, in the county of Schuyler and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Obstetric or Invalid Got, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in obstetric or invalid cots.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive obstetric or invalid cot capable of being readily and compactly folded to adapt it to be conveniently carried from a physicians office to the house of a patient and adapted to be readily set up, in a firm and secure manner and in the desired position.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a cot constructed in accordance with this invention and shown set up in operative position. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view,illustrating the manner of folding the side bars and legs. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the notches of the legs.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-- responding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a substantially rectangular frame, composed of similar side pieces having hinged or folding sections 2, inclining downward and inward from the ends of the frame to provide a central drop .therein, and having their outer ends connected by a removable cross-bar 3, and a transverse roll or shaft 4. The inner ends of the sections 20f the sides are slightly beveled to enable them to abut squarely when in operative position, and they are connected at the lower edges of the sections by hinges 5; and to prevent any liability of the hinged sections 2 accidentally swinging upward and causing the cot to collapse, pivoted locking-plates 6 are arranged on the inner faces of the side-bars. Each locking plate 6 is secured to one of the sections adj acent to the inner end thereof by a pivot 7, and is provided with inclined notches 8, arranged to engage headed studs 9, of the other section of the side bar. The plate is preferably angular, and any number of the notches 8 may be provided at the lower edge of the plate, and a stud 9 may be arranged on the section having the pivot '7.

The ends of the cross-bar 3 are provided with mortises 11, to receive tenons 12, of the outer ends of the adjacent sections of the side bars, and the said crossbar has tacked or otherwise secured to it one end of a fabric 13, such as duck or the like, which forms the top of the cot. The other end of the fabric top '13 is secured to the roll or shaft 4:, which is provided with a ratchet-wheel 14, arranged adjacent to one of the side bars of the rectangular cot-frame, and adapted to be engaged by a pivoted pawl 15, whereby the fabric top may be secured at the desired tension, or may be held slack in hammock form, as desired. The fabric top is provided, at opposite sides with tabs 16, having perforations or buttonholes 17, and adapted to button over headed studs 18, to secure the top of the cot as firmly as desired, and any number of the tabs may be employed for this purpose.

The cot is provided with pivoted legs 19, arranged in pairs and located adjacent to the ends of the frame and having their upper ends pivotally attached to the outer faces of the sections 2 of the side bars; and they are provided, intermediate of their ends, with shouldered notches 20, located at the outer edges of the legs and arranged to be engaged by pivoted braces 21, depending from the side-bars. By engaging the pivoted braces 21 in the notches of the legs, the latter are rigidly connected with the frame, and the series of notches enable the top of the cot to be arranged at the same elevation, or to have one end higher than the other, as desired. The braces are locked in their engagement with the legs by hooks 22, attached to the braces and arranged to engage eyes 23 of the legs. The legs are further supported by diagonally-disposed tie-rods 24:, provided at their ends with hooks and arranged to engage headed projections 25, of the legs.

The top of the cot is provided, throughout the greater portion of its length, with 'a waterproof covering 26, of rubber, oil cloth, or any similar material, and a central drain-opening 27 is provided to receive and convey away any discharges, or the like, a depending draintube 28 being provided around the opening on the lower face of the flexible top 13, and adapted to empty into a slop-jar or other receptacle.

On each side bar is mounted an adjustable foot-rest 29, having an angularly-arranged bearing-face 30 to give better purchase, and provided with a rearward extension 31, from which depend link-plates 32, having their upper ends pivoted at opposite sides of the extension of the foot-rest, and having their lower ends connected by a pin 33 and key, whereby a clasp is formed. The lowerends of the linkplates are perforated for the reception of the connecting pin, and the greater the pressure upon the foot-rest the greater is the clamping or binding action of the clasp.

The foot rests are independently adjustable, and their bearing faces are disposed at an acute angle to each other.

At each side of the cot, near the foot thereof, is secured a hand-strap 34, constructed of leather, Webbing, or similar material, and provided with an adjustable handle 35, connected by a buckle 36 with the strap 34. The handle is directlysecured to the buckle by means of angularly-disposed pieces having their'inner ends folded and stiff, and provided at their outer ends with loops to receive the ends of the handle.

The said tabs 16 may consist of short pieces arranged at the edges of the fabric top of the cot, or they may be formed by transverse strips secured to the lower face of the fabric and projecting from the opposite sides thereof; and it will be apparent that this latter construction greatly strengthens the top of the cot.

It will be seen that the cot is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be compactly folded for carrying, that it is capable of being readily set up and adjusted to the desired position, and that it is adapted to efficient-ly perform or subserve all the purposes for which it is intended. The advantages of the invention will be readily understood and fully appreciated by physicians for whose use the cot is principally designed.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is 1. In a folding cot, the combination of a frame, folding legs pivotally attached to the frame and provided at their outer edges with shouldered notches, inclined braces pivotally attached to and depending from the frame and arranged to engage detachably the notches of the legs, fastening devices detachably connecting the engaging ends of the braces to the legs and holding the braces in engagement with the notches, studs projecting from the legs and crossed tie-rods provided at their ends with hooks detachably engaging the studs of the legs, substantially as described.

2. In a folding obstetric cot, the combination of the supporting frame composed of two hinged sections, the fabric top secured at its ends to the frame and having its sides connected with the frame only at the head of the cot, the independent foot rests slidingly mounted on the opposite side bars of the frame, the hand straps attached to the side bars of the frame in rear of the foot rests, and folding legs, substantially as described.

3. In a folding cot, the combination of the supporting frame composed of two hinged sections, one of the sections being provided on the side bars with studs, the fabric top secured at its ends to the frame and provided at the upper section of the frame or the head of the cot with tabs adapted to button over the studs of the frame, the hand straps attached to the frame at the foot thereof, the independent foot rests slidingly mounted on the side bars of the frame and located between the tabs and the hand straps, and folding legs supporting the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DELIVAN W. SCU'IT.

Witnesses:

W. B. HUGHES, J. M. SwARTWooD. 

